What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
declinate
Example
The declinate terrain made it difficult to climb the hill. [declinate: adjective]
Example
The tower was declinate, leaning slightly to one side. [declinate: verb]
Example
The company's profits began to declinate after the economic downturn. [declinate: verb]
deviate
Example
We had to deviate from our original route due to construction. [deviate: verb]
Example
His behavior began to deviate from his usual calm demeanor. [deviate: verb]
Example
The new product deviated from the company's traditional design style. [deviated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deviate is more commonly used than declinate in everyday language. Deviate is a more versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while declinate is more technical and specific in nature.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between declinate and deviate?
Both declinate and deviate are formal words that are more likely to be used in technical or specialized contexts. However, deviate is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while declinate is primarily used in technical or scientific writing.